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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Conservatives hail election gains | Conservatives hail election gains |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives say they have made stunning gains in the English local elections which will pave the way to victory at the next general election. | The Conservatives say they have made stunning gains in the English local elections which will pave the way to victory at the next general election. |
| With many results still to come in, the Conservatives have made a net gain of more than 360 seats and have seized control of councils across the country. | |
| Labour suffered a net loss of more than 160 council seats, but has held its own in many local authorities. | |
| Labour said the Tories would need to do better to win the next election. | Labour said the Tories would need to do better to win the next election. |
| The Liberal Democrats have hailed wins in Hull, Rochdale, Eastbourne and Hinckley and Bosworth, but overall have lost more than 140 seats. | |
| BBC research suggests the Tories are on course to win 41% of the vote. | BBC research suggests the Tories are on course to win 41% of the vote. |
| The projection suggests the Conservatives are 14% ahead of Labour, which has a share of 27%. | The projection suggests the Conservatives are 14% ahead of Labour, which has a share of 27%. |
| Although they again failed to win any seats on Manchester City Council, Conservatives gained seats in nearby Trafford and gained control in Chester and South Ribble. | Although they again failed to win any seats on Manchester City Council, Conservatives gained seats in nearby Trafford and gained control in Chester and South Ribble. |
| David Cameron described the Tory results as stunning | David Cameron described the Tory results as stunning |
| Tory leader David Cameron said his party had secured a great set of results. | Tory leader David Cameron said his party had secured a great set of results. |
| "We took control of South Ribble with stunning results on one side of the Pennines. | "We took control of South Ribble with stunning results on one side of the Pennines. |
| "We took control of the East Riding of Yorkshire on the other side with also stunning results," he said. | "We took control of the East Riding of Yorkshire on the other side with also stunning results," he said. |
| Labour chairman Hazel Blears said that while it had "not been a brilliant night" for Labour, Mr Cameron had not enjoyed the surge he needed to win at a general election. | Labour chairman Hazel Blears said that while it had "not been a brilliant night" for Labour, Mr Cameron had not enjoyed the surge he needed to win at a general election. |
| "I think you do have to look across the country. Look at Bolton, Bury, Barrow and Crewe. | "I think you do have to look across the country. Look at Bolton, Bury, Barrow and Crewe. |
| "Just a couple of days ago David Cameron was saying they had to make gains in Bolton and Bury otherwise they won't be breaking through in the North," she told the BBC. | "Just a couple of days ago David Cameron was saying they had to make gains in Bolton and Bury otherwise they won't be breaking through in the North," she told the BBC. |
| The Tories took control of Oswestry Borough Council for the first time in the council's history and gained North Warwickshire, Gravesham and Plymouth. | The Tories took control of Oswestry Borough Council for the first time in the council's history and gained North Warwickshire, Gravesham and Plymouth. |
| They also became the largest party in Birmingham for the first time in 24 years - holding on to power as part of a coalition with the Lib Dems. | They also became the largest party in Birmingham for the first time in 24 years - holding on to power as part of a coalition with the Lib Dems. |
| Won no votes | Won no votes |
| It did not all go the Tories' way - the Conservative candidate who stood in Tony Blair's home ward in County Durham failed to poll a single vote. | It did not all go the Tories' way - the Conservative candidate who stood in Tony Blair's home ward in County Durham failed to poll a single vote. |
| Shirley Bowes was not able to vote for herself as she does not live in the ward. | Shirley Bowes was not able to vote for herself as she does not live in the ward. |
| In a Lincolnshire council seat, Conservative Christopher Underwood-Frost held on - by winning on the toss of a coin. | In a Lincolnshire council seat, Conservative Christopher Underwood-Frost held on - by winning on the toss of a coin. |
| He had tied with his Lib Dem rival on 781 votes, forcing the spin of a coin to decide the winner. | He had tied with his Lib Dem rival on 781 votes, forcing the spin of a coin to decide the winner. |
| Electronic counting | Electronic counting |
| Across England 32.8m people were able to vote. About 10,500 councillors will be elected across England as a result of Thursday's voting. | Across England 32.8m people were able to vote. About 10,500 councillors will be elected across England as a result of Thursday's voting. |
| Electronic vote counting, which has been piloted by a number of English councils, has been hit by problems however, with some having to abandon the pilot to count votes by hand later. | Electronic vote counting, which has been piloted by a number of English councils, has been hit by problems however, with some having to abandon the pilot to count votes by hand later. |
| Almost half of the counts started straight after polls closed, but other authorities delayed their counts until later on Friday because of a new postal voting system. | Almost half of the counts started straight after polls closed, but other authorities delayed their counts until later on Friday because of a new postal voting system. |
| Election officers must double check at least 20%, but preferably 100%, of signatures accompanying ballot papers with those on the original applications for a postal vote. | Election officers must double check at least 20%, but preferably 100%, of signatures accompanying ballot papers with those on the original applications for a postal vote. |
| It means a clear picture of the results will be unlikely to be available before Friday afternoon. | It means a clear picture of the results will be unlikely to be available before Friday afternoon. |